Joe Newton

7 minutes ago, AHPP said:

 

As much as army life might be good for a lot of people and might offset some social disharmony (ie taking tearaways away from British council estates and putting them in Iraqi council estates), it produces people who only know how to function with top-down power structures and who will vehemently reject individualism as adults. Weighting democracy in favour of that system is like when something with water in tips over. It starts going, the water runs to the side, weights it more and makes sure it goes.

Plus, fighting mindset combined with the standard attributes of the public sector (corruption, mob mentality, lack of accountability etc) is doubly dangerous. Look at Stanford Prison. Imagine if those kids, instead of being told to stop at the end of the week, had been given medals and promotions. Those are the Guantanamo guards of the future, pissing on a caged arab with broken hands and feet. 

 

On army raising, I watched The Hunger Games yesterday. It's set in a 'dystopian future' where the rich live in the capital city and the poor live in 12 outside districts and are only allowed food if they work. Every year, the rich pick a couple of poor kids from each district and make them fight to the death so they can make money from televising it. There is of course a buoyant support industry in arming them, training them etc. It would have been a less depressing watch if it wasn't exactly how countries currently constitute armies.

It's a copy of Battle Royale, but with relatable white faces.

I didn't mind Jennifer Lawrence though. 

Are you the same Conrad who sold me a set of spikes in a motorway service station over a decade ago?

17 minutes ago, Con said:

Ok. Different ways of doing things I suppose. For me, first aid/whistle on harness, and I don't smoke in the tree. Lying about the whistle.  That's in the cup holder in the van, where its been for 30 years 

What else am I supposed to do while I watch the chipper pigs labour to clear my glorious work?

38 minutes ago, Con said:

What do you put in all your pockets? Serious question. I've got a pair with 5 pockets. Can't think what I could possibly fill them with 

Both my SIP trousers have a pocket above the right knee for my phone and lighter. Left thigh pocket for trauma dressing and baccy. Front hip pockets are useful when not climbing for change/keys/pocket knife.

None of those are any good to me in the van. 

Never used the rear pockets or that daft one for a combi spanner

22 minutes ago, Con said:

Arbotec asked me for some feedback once. I suggested a climbing specific chainsaw trousers, with no pockets,  because that was the first place they would snag and rip. Totally ignored me, nothing new there!

Funnily enough I was once asked to review some arbotec gear, including their trousers. The first iteration had 8 pockets, but that was the least of the problems.

13 minutes ago, Mark Bolam said:

I think they will be very cool though, they are lighter than the Cloggers.

 

They’d be better off just importing the Cloggers though, it’s about time someone did.

Bet they'll be warmer than my SIPs

They look weird, one pocket isn't enough and you can't take anything those Honey's bumsniffers say to get more free shit seriously.

Don't like the fact that Bolam and I would technically fit into the same size trousers.

1 hour ago, John Shutler said:

crispy dead pine removal. about 20mins in work. tree was about 25m tall. 

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Very nice John, not much tidy up to do after that either.

I trust its earning its keep then?

38 minutes ago, Treewolf said:

What's the problem? Just get one with an external rear camera, such as a Blackview DR750 Truck. I've had one on the back of my double-cab Defender for years, it does the job very well.

No problem, I was asking for suggestions. Thank you for your input. 

Cheers buddy, it's torn the front bumper off the volvo and a load of fluid pissed everywhere but hopefully it's washer fluid not rad.

All fine, the other driver was pretty shaken but I think it's worse when you know you've caused the accident.

The driver that hit me had front rear dashcams so they might get the other driver that didn't stop who caused him to crash into me, but it also clearly shows him changing lanes into me, so insurance should be pretty cut and dry.

Incredibly I was actually on the phone (hands free) to the police at the time of the collision, reporting a potential jumper hanging over the overpass. The whole m1 was closed minutes later. You couldn't write it 🙄

I got side swiped on the M1 today, a vehicle moving right to left was trying to avoid someone doing the same to him and clipped across my front bumper.

It's got me looking at getting a dash cam installed in my van. I can't afford not to really.

I was wondering if anyone has successfully mounted a rear facing dash cam onto a panel van. It seems like a pain and there's not a lot of options out there on line.

Forward facing only is better than nothing,  but I thought I'd see if anyone had done similar

1 hour ago, spudulike said:

Nope, 346 just sounds and feels great and I like my 357.

I meant for your dad's black and decker 🤣

Love my 357 but realistically it's not much lighter than the 500. At some point I'll swap it for a 50cc saw. I'll miss it though

7 minutes ago, spudulike said:

Nope, it is bog standard and my departed Fathers saw that I grabbed before my brother cleared the garage...in to his!

It does the job but is pretty slow compared to the ported 346,,,,used it last week....the best saw I have ever used, great piece of kit.

Swap for a ported 357xp?

Danny is legit, even if he looks like if you ordered Ant Middleton on Wish...

You can tell him I said that 🤣

4 minutes ago, John Shutler said:

 

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Tidying a wind blown cedar today. millable section is 4ft by about 20ft. weighed 3.5 tonne on the roto scales.

dug out behind the root plate before we severed it to make sure it’s sit flat. 

two of us on-site all stacked ready for chipping a tided by 3pm. all other timber will be cracked down and chipped along with the brush 

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All says unavailable mate

The Positioner is better in every way. 

46 minutes ago, Puffingbilly413 said:

Ok so you've a bit of time then.

No, it's overdue.

2 hours ago, Clutchy said:

Indeed, and the battle to keep my company going, in my opinion, is worth £90k a year to me for 2 x teams 

 

Or ill just take £50k a year as a contract climber (if I was) or more likely, back to my office job which would pay the same (50k), if not more with way less hassle, and I haven't got the worry of a wage bill every month

 

Perhaps I'm on my own when it comes to placing a high value on the stress, extra time and capital investment etc of running my own tree business 

Firstly, it's doubtful you'd be capable of being a freelance climber earning this rates.

Secondly, the climbers charging the figures you've suggested aren't earning that. Kit, travel costs, cancellations etc take a pretty large chunk out of that top end.

The answer to your question will vary with every person you ask, but I agree with your estimate, it's not worth doing for less, which is why I don't.

14 hours ago, Mark Bolam said:

 

Heavy old beast as well, which may help longevity.

Heavy is good, heavy is reliable. If it doesn't work you can always throw it at them.

Boris the Blade

26 minutes ago, JAG63 said:

I bought the Hyundai, great if you can get it started but the choke is made out of cheese and doesn't (choke).

 

That looks promising. 3 year warranty too so could possibly have a new one each year 😁

37 minutes ago, Dan Maynard said:

Have you got any decent stack of batteries? If it's a small amount of use then maybe buying a bare tool would work? Might still struggle on your £300 though.

 

My brother's got a system from Screwfix, think it was Ryobi, seems to do him ok. 

Got a few ryobi batteries. Not really interested in battery though, 2stroke gets you more bang for your buck. 

I'm after a 2 stroke multi tool for using round the garden. Strimmer/long reach trimmer is what I need. 

Being a freelance climber I have no need for the pro options for work, and can't justify spending the money for my own personal use.

Has anyone bought any of the cheaper options? I'm really hoping to spend no more than £300.

2 hours ago, Mick Dempsey said:

Understood.

I’d just say to the client £150 and we’ll do it when we have an hour or two free after another job, prolly a cubic meter of chip.

 

Ideally cash on a Friday afternoon so it’ll get straight into the Colombian exchequer without delay.

 

(I joke of course)

Many a true thing said in jest mate!

You bought a foot ascender before you bought a rope?